There already exists a national qualification for people placed in front of classes: it's called Qualified Teacher Status.

<a href="www.google.co.uk">Google</a>

There was me thinking QTS qualified you to teach. I think there is a valuable role to be played by cover supervisors and furthermore I would almost go so far as to suggest that experience in that role would be a valuable precursor to gaining QTS. If everyone who went on a PGCE or similar had spent a few terms in the classroom as cover their classroom management skills would be a lot better when starting, they wouldnt be afraid of the school setting and could concentrate on the academic and teaching side of their course.

Cover supervisors enable us to avoid spending time covering lessons on subjects about which we know nothing. I remember being asked to cover GCSE mandarin, I can honestly say I wasn't overly helpful and the role could have been filled just as well by cover. There is a role for these guys its just schools needing to get it right, obviously it should only be for "short term absences" they are not meant to teach new material etc. But if a school has a good bank of cover resources for each year group and a proactive approach to cover supervisors who are often committed, hardworking and keen to help, wonders can be performed. Qualified teachers can teach their subject, supply teachers can work longer term supply and get to know classes and CS's can get experience of life in school rather than getting trained and then leaving the profession after a year...

Yes training is required for cover supervisors to be effective. No they are not teachers. No the system in the school you are wokring in is not perfect. No its not in mine either. But they have made a difference and do have a role to play in ensuring the most appropriately qualified individuals are "placed in front of classes."

MrHistorian I hate to say this you are a typical teacher in a permanent role, you do not understand the reality of what is occuring in education. Increasing numbers of supply teachers and NQT's are being forced out of education by the use of instructors, CS, HLTA's and TA's. This is not by choice, but because schools are using these unqualified people to teach and cover lessons for people like yourself, instead of getting in an qualified teacher. In your world the schools are regularly using supply teachers and most get in supply teachers to cover short or long term absences, in your world supply teachers have plenty of work.  If this is the case explain why TA's are covering maternity leave periods, why are supply teachers being forced to claim JSA or to find in positions outside education or are forced by schools to work as CS and TA's to pay their bills.

Answer this, what do say to the teacher made redundant by the school to be replaced by an unqualified person, who previous job could have been driving a wagon to working in a shop. In this I am not kidding, teachers and TA's have reported how a former wagon driver teaching MFL or how TA's, etc are teaching lessons and regard themselves as teachers. Oh the CS are good and have an important role within schools, We can cheer ourselves by remembering these words this the next time we sign on for JSA.

If I was you, I would take notice of how the number of CS and unqualified are increasing each year and wonder, how the appearance of a supply teacher in your school is becoming a rare site. Then when you wake, start to think they have destroyed the supply teachers role, who is next and look in the mirror to find the answer. Remember the words of David Milliband "I can see the day, when a school as a few qualified teachers and the rest will be unqualified".

The role of CS is pointless and should be scrapped and replaced by cover teachers, that way, there will always be qualified teacher to ensure learning continues with the students, because every lesson without a qualified teacher can have a detrimental impact on a childs future.

historygrump:

MrHistorian I hate to say this you are a typical teacher in a permanent role, you do not understand the reality of what is occuring in education. Increasing numbers of supply teachers and NQT's are being forced out of education by the use of instructors, CS, HLTA's and TA's. This is not by choice, but because schools are using these unqualified people to teach and cover lessons for people like yourself, instead of getting in an qualified teacher.

Historygrump

I don't think you should include Instructors in this batch, cos many of these, do have a specialist degree or two, and many have done PGCE FE, (which is also funded by Governement, as is secondary PGCE and only needs an on the job one or two term conversion to QTS.) Many are actually Lecturers (often at Higher level) doing the same job as Teachers, but in FE. They work in school quite legally. Maybe like Vets and Doctors!

I have come across many with QTS that still can't teach well, or manage groups!